Editorial The Cannabis Conundrum Michael J. Meagher MD, Co-Editor; Hawai‘i Journal of Medicine & Public Health There is litle that engenders more argument and polemic than a discussion of the legalization of Marijuana usage. As of this writing 21 states allow use of Cannabinoids for medical use and 2 states allow recreational use.1 In 2000, the State of Hawai‘i passed Bill 862, allowing the medical use of Marijuana for patients possessing a signed statement from their physician stating that he/she suffers from a debilitating condition and the “ potential benefits of the use of Marijuana would likely exceed the health risks.” The law underwent minor amendment in 2013. The two articles presented in this issue represent, we believe, opposing perspectives on the use of this drug, similar to the

arguments in the peer reviewed medical literature.2 Drs. Webb and McKenna clearly disagree and espouse their positions clearly but do seem to agree on one thing: the data is insufficiently clear to render a single, evidence based position and considerably more research is needed. For the present, we leave it to the reader to sort fact from value judgement: reference 2 is an ideal place to start. References

1. http://www.Procon.org. Summary chart. 2. Medical Use of Marijuana. NEJM. 2013;368;866-868. Available online as www.nejm.org/doi/ full/10.1056/NEJMcide1300970.

HAWAI‘I JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & PUBLIC HEALTH, APRIL 2014, VOL 73, NO 4 104